PCA warn England over IPL stance

Big hitter: Kevin Pietersen could earn a fortune in India

By Simon Briggs

11:55AM GMT 28 Mar 2008

Sean Morris, chief executive of the Professional Cricketers Association, has warned that there could be "friction" between players and administrators if English cricket tries to prevent its personnel from cashing in on the Indian 20-over gold rush.

"It's a war for talent out there, as it is in any business," Morris told BBC Radio Five Live. "The value of a cricketer has increased through what is happening in the Indian Premier League. It would be perfectly natural for any player to ask the PCA to help them take advantage of that."

Giles Clarke, the chairman of the England and Wales Cricket Board, has taken a strong position on the IPL. Also interviewed last night by the BBC, he said that the ECB was not interested in the competition, and that he doubted that any centrally contracted player would be interested in jeopardising his England career in order to play in India.

Thus far, Clarke has been supported by leading players such as Kevin Pietersen, who said last week that there is "no way in the world" he would join the IPL.

Pietersen is still only 28, and still has many years of international cricket ahead of him. But with players such as Australia's Andrew Symonds being offered up to $1.35million for seven weeks' work, it is easy to see why a player coming to the end of his international lifespan might be interested.

Steve Harmison, who was recently dropped from the Test side, is one man who has been mentioned as a natural IPL target.

For all the denials made by Pietersen and Andrew Flintoff in recent weeks, Morris said he would not be surprised to see either man playing in the IPL next year.

"Their priority is England, they've all said that," he said.

"But I just hope we can come to a point where they're comfortable with their arrangement with the ECB as their employers and take advantage of the increase in income into the game, because you're a long time retired.

"Restricting employees anywhere will cause friction in a relationship - over a period of time that will break it down."